The website Ultimate Classic Rock has put out their list of the Top New Wave bands ever and if you’re a fan of the genre, you might not agree with it. We present their top 5 for you to ponder, but I can’t say that I agree with it. See what you think below.

Before we get into let’s take a minute to remember what New Wave music was all about. It started in or around 1977 with the debut of bands like the Talking Heads and The Cars. Their sound was different from what we getting at the time, which was every thing from Southern Rock, such as Lynyrd Skynrd and the Allman Brothers. Their was harder rock from heavy weight bands like Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.

Of course by that point Disco was nearing its peak with The Bee Gees topping the charts with anything they released and dominating with the massive success of Saturday Night Fever.

New wave music has a totally different sound to it, it wasn’t hard it wasn’t solved. It was music that focused on cerebral lyrics and a more electronic vibe. Less gritty than rock but deeper than pop.

Most music, historians would say that the new wave sound came out of New York at Club’s like CBGB, it was also an answer to the punk rock saying that was dominating in great Britain. New wave was a more radio, friendly style of music, less screaming, and more pop influences.

The New Wave fad faded in the mid 1980’s with the growing popularity of big arena bands like Bon Jovi, Journey, Def Leppard and Big Hair bands like Motley Crue, Guns and Roses and Metallica.

New Wave lives on today with band like Blondie still out there playing to big size audiences although nowhere near the golden ages.

Here’s the Top 5 New Wave Bands of All Time

• 5. The Cars

  Arguably no new wave act harnessed the strength of power-pop hooks better than the Cars. Led by singer Ric Ocasek, the band delivered some of the most polished hits of their era, including “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Good Times Roll.” However, there was depth and nuance to their material that went far beyond the shimmering production.

• 4. Depeche Mode

  As new technologies began influencing music in the ‘80s, many artists tried to figure out how computers and synthesizers could brighten their material. Depeche Mode took things in a different direction, exploring the dark, seedy underbelly of these new sounds.

• 3. Police

  The Police started out with dreams of becoming a punk rock group, but found unexpected depth and musicality along the way. The band’s energy remained, but they began mixing in outside influences, including elements of reggae and jazz, to create a sound all their own.

• 2. The Cure

  Like many of the acts on this list, the Cure started off as a punk rock group. Their sound quickly began to evolve, largely due to the artistic ambitions of frontman Robert Smith. The singer credited a brief period performing with Siouxsie and the Banshees for broadening his musical horizon. “I was blown away by how powerful I felt playing that kind of music,”

• 1. Talking Heads

  There may have been more commercially successful artist within the new wave movement, but none were as artistically celebrated as Talking Heads. Led by idiosyncratic frontman David Byrne, the innovative New York group pushed every boundary imaginable. Their style refused to be pigeonholed, with elements of punk, funk, art rock, jazz and world music infused throughout their material.

  Read More: 20 Greatest New Wave Bands | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-new-wave-bands/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Sign me up for the 105.7 WROR email newsletter!

Make sure you're in the know on the latest music and entertainment news, plus exclusive prizes, trips, and more!

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.